Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar: No need for copyrights

Three ASEAN countries for the coming 8 years will not have to bother about intellectual property rights. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) on June 11 extended the deadline for the world’s “least developed nations” to get their house in order with regards to observation of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

This means that pirated goods are “legal” until 2021 in these countries to allow them “access to products and technology needed for development.” Products commonly protected by intellectual property are books, music, software and films. Pharmaceuticals, which have their own 2016 deadline, are excluded from the decision.

TRIPS sets out standards of copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret protection WTO members are expected to provide within their borders. Those standards harmonise legislation protecting intellectual property around the world.

Critics of the waiver extension said that this might deter foreign companies, especially software and IT firms, from investing in the three countries and the lack of protections would stifle economic growth.

For example, a Windows 8 upgrade which is sold for $120 in the Microsoft store goes for around $2 at certain markets in Phnom Penh.

Three ASEAN countries for the coming 8 years will not have to bother about intellectual property rights. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) on June 11 extended the deadline for the world’s “least developed nations” to get their house in order with regards to observation of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

This means that pirated goods are “legal” until 2021 in these countries to allow them “access to products and technology needed for development.” Products commonly protected by intellectual property are books, music, software and films. Pharmaceuticals, which have their own 2016 deadline, are excluded from the decision.

TRIPS sets out standards of copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret protection WTO members are expected to provide within their borders. Those standards harmonise legislation protecting intellectual property around the world.

Critics of the waiver extension said that this might deter foreign companies, especially software and IT firms, from investing in the three countries and the lack of protections would stifle economic growth.

For example, a Windows 8 upgrade which is sold for $120 in the Microsoft store goes for around $2 at certain markets in Phnom Penh.